It’s time to decide where to live next semester.
There are the traditional dormitories, the apartment-style dorms or off campus altogether.
The only problem is the longer it takes to decide where to live, the higher the prices will be, and availability will decrease.
“For college housing (apartments) the best time to start looking and sign a lease would be at least four to six months prior to the move-in date”, said Mary Ross, a property manager from Century 21.
“The one way to know that you’re getting the best deal for your money is to ask questions and see what deals the property has at the time,” said Kathy Russell, a property manager from Coastal Properties.
“Certain deals will not always be given unless they are specifically asked for,” she said.
A study in the 2002 issue of Newsweek found that young consumers are 57 percent more likely to be taken advantage of than older, more mature consumers. It was a random survey of individuals from the ages of 18 to 35.
The fall 2002 issue of the College Renters’ Guide emphasized that “students should try to find places that can grow with them.”
There are many benefits of staying at a location for an extended period of time.
Landlords or managers tend to decrease rent for tenants who reside in their properties for a certain time period.
This will not only cut down on rent prices, but also on utilities, phone and cable costs.
The main mission to finding a place for next school year is to find a, “home away from home.”
This should not be a last minute job. Make sure to put a reasonable amount of time and effort into choosing a place to live. It will pay off in the end.
Ashley Jackson can be reached at Ashley_43110@yahoo.com.